NEWARK - Victor Adebayo is shooting for the stars for his senior season — or at least some rarefied air.

A decade ago, standout Ivan Duspar seemed to put the Licking Heights hurdles records out of reach, but those numbers have driven Adebayo, who joins Nathaniel Amoah as the Hornets' two senior leaders this season.

"I feel like I am in a pretty good spot," Adebayo said. "I had a pretty nice season opener with a 40.4 (in the 300 hurdles), and this is a step in the direction I want to go. I am trying to break the school record of 37.5. Hopefully, I can do it."

Adebayo had a strong showing in the Newark Catholic Invitational on April 7, sweeping the titles in the 110 hurdles (16.7) and 300 hurdles (41.8) with ease.

"(Assistant coach Damen O'Cain) says to worry about the speed," Adebayo said. "He says we usually have the beginning of the race, and it's the finish that gets you. I usually come off first 200 at 24 seconds, and that last 100 is where it gets you. That's when you start hearing everyone cheering and you start noticing your surroundings a little bit more, and you start losing your focus."

Adebayo is not taking anything for granted. As he continues to chase his marks, he knows each step can throw him off. He clipped the last hurdle in both of his races.

"I have been trying to three-stepping in between my hurdles because that's what you have to do to be a decent 110 hurdler, and I finally mastered it," Adebayo said. "Again, I want the school record at 14.7. If I go, 14.9, that's cool, too. That's where I want to be at."

Amoah joined Adebayo as a double winner in the 200 (23.2) and 400 (53.3), and they also teamed with Randy Mbouge and Tyquan House to win the 800 relay (1:35.9). Dalton Weber won the 800 (2:12.53).

On April 12, Amoah in the 200 (23.24) and 400 (51.65) and Adebayo in the 110 hurdles (15.98) and 300 hurdles (41.41) also were double winners during the Licking Heights Invitational. Garrett Miller won the 1,600 (5:13.48) and 3,200 (11:08.63), and the Hornets won the 800 (1:34.36) and 1,600 (3:34.07) relays.

On the girls team, senior Cherokee Bodell is using any resource she can find to improve her performance in the shot put and discus.

"It's definitely a lot of technique," said Bodell after dissecting videos and photos taken by teammate Emily Swisher during a recent meet. "Right now, I don't have a coach, so it's just been watching YouTube videos. I definitely want to pay attention to my feet and make sure I am getting on my toes."

Bodell, who has committed to Indiana Tech, competed during the indoor season in 2017, and it paid off as she eventually earned runner-up honors in the shot put during the Licking County League-Buckeye Division meet. She competed again this past winter, and she already has set a new outdoor best in the shot put at 32-2.

Bodell's next step is becoming consistent at reaching that distance and setting herself up to throw farther as the weather warms up. She won the shot put (29-10) during the Heights' invitational.

"At Hamilton Township, I threw 32-2, which was a nice distance for me, but I want to get 35, which is our school record," Bodell said. "It's a whole bunch of work, and I just have to stay focused and not let mess-ups get me down."

Bodell's teammate Kimitra Kusi placed second in the discus (92-2) for the second consecutive meet.

"I am proud of all of our girls that have started working this year," Bodell said. "(Sandra Adamah-Tassah) has put in a lot of work. She also runs, so she is definitely taking the extra route. It's really nice to see."

On their home track, the Hornets received victories from freshmen Meagan Creamer in the 200 (29.00) and Sohmer Lawrence in the 800 (2:52.51). The Hornets also won the 3,200 relay (11:06.03) after Creamer, Lawrence, Kayla Wand and Olivia Crosby finished runner-up in the event during the Newark Catholic Invitational.